cornell



2 rSheetrs--Eheet 2.

Intermed Feb. 13, 1894.

E.` W. CORNELL. GAN LABBLING MACHINE.

(NU Model.)

WITNESS/E I fliomeys.

` UNITED STATES l PATENT rErcE.

EVAN W. CORNELL, lOF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRED H.KNAPP, `OF SAME PLACE.

CAN-.LABELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,705, dated February13, 1894. Application iiled Januaryl, 1893. Serial No. 458.574. (Nomodel.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVAN W. CORNELL, a citizenoftheUnited States,residingatAdrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Can-Labeling Machines;and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to thelettersand figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of 4this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in can labeling machines andconsists in producing a machine of this class that is adapted tobeactuated by thegravity of the lled can, and in which the label isapplied to the cau as it rolls from one end of the machine to the other,as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, the essential features ofwhich being pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap and effectivemachine for labeling cans, and in which the-arrangement is such that themachine is actuated by the gravity of the cans, and the labels areapplied thereto as said cans are caused to roll from one end of saidmachine to the other. This object is attained by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figurel is aperspective view of my iinproved machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofsame. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through Fig. 2. Fig. isa detail in perspective of the label containing receptacle, showing acan passing over said labels and causing .one to adhere thereto. of oneof the restraining knives of the label receptacle, which are adapted toengage opposite edges of the labels, and so confine them in saidreceptacle that but one will be detached at a time as the can passesover them.

Referring to the letters and figures of reference, A designates theframe of the machine having an inclined table. Upon said table ismounted the can run-way consisting of a 5o trough or chute having thevertical sides B. Located at the forward end of the chute or run- Fig. 5is a detailway is an abruptly inclined andoscillative section C, whichis hinged at a to the main portion of the run-way and is adapted toswing down-` ward by the weight of the can when placed thereon. Saidsection being provided with the opposite guides b between which the cansare placed and which serve to bring said cans into proper position forstarting on their course through the machine. Leadingfrom the guides bare the tracks c which connect with the tracks c' on the sides of themain chuteuipon which the cans are adapted to roll between the guides d,which guides are made adjustable to accommodate the various lengths ofcans, by means of the movable stops d.

E designates thepaste-pot which is located between the oscillativesection C and the label receptacle D. Within said pot near the bottomthereof, is'a roller F which is mounted on a shaft passing through saidpot and carrying a gear wheel G which meshes with the gear G on theshaft of the roller F', journaled-in the pot above the roller Fandrunning in-peripheral contact therewith. Crossing the interior of thepot adjacent to the periphery of the roller F is a scraper F whichprevents too great au accumulation of paste on the surface of saidroller.

The roller F supplies the paste to the roller` F which is provided witha covering of felt, and extends between the track so as to apply pasteto aportion of the periphery of the can as it passes along said track.

To provide for rotating the paste rollers, the oscillative section ofthe run-way is provided with an arm f, to the upper end of which ispivoted. a ratchet if', which engages the teeth of the gear G, whereby,when said section is depressed, said ratchet will actuate l said gearand revolve the rollers F, F', thereby, applying the past in properproportion to the cans as they pass over the roller F. The section C isreturned to its normal position after being depressed, by means of aweight f, which is attached to one end of apivoted lever h, which iscoupled at its other end, by means of the bar h with the under side ofsaid oscillative section, as clearly shown in,

Figs. 2 and 3.

The label receptacle is provided with lat- IOO eraliy adjustable sidesh, so as to accommodate various widths of labels, said sides beingadjusted by means of the hand screws t', that engage the angle-irons tattached to said sides. Forming the bottom of said receptacle, is avertically movable follower H upon which the labels are placed and whichis adapted to be forced upward by means of a weighted cam Il whichengages the lower end of an arm H, depending from said follower.

In applying glazed or stiff labels to the cans, it is found necessary tomoisteu the lap ends thereof before they are placed in the receptacle,to render them soft and pliable so as to enable the paste to hold saidlap ends in perfect adhesion to the can. This moistening of the labelscauses the pack or bunch to become thicker at the nioistened end. It isnecessary therefore in ord er to keep the bun ch of labels level, thatthe feed shall be greater at this end. To accomplish this, the followerHis provided with the curved arm Il that passes through a closelyfitting guide 2 secured to the frame, causing said arm to travel in thearc of a circle, which gives the follower a tilting motion and carriesthe lower end thereof, upon which the wet ends of the labels rest,faster than the uppei1 end.

To provide for lifting the bottom ll of the label receptacle so that thesurface of the labels therein may be maintained on a level with theplane of the chute or run-way, the arm I-I" is not attached directly tothe bottom H, but to a bar k hinged at one end to said bottom and havingat the other end a thumb screw k passing therethrough and bearingagainst the under face of the bottom, whereby, by turning said screw,the bottom may be tilted as desired.

Projecting laterally into the label receptacle from each side thereof,are the opposed V-shaped knives m which are formed on the end journalsn, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, the cutting edges of said knivesterminating at or near the circumferential center of said journals whichare adapted to be slightly rotated by means of the arms o attachedthereto and which are coupled by the connecting bars o to the arms f,whereby, by the oscillation of said section C, the journals n will berotated causing the knives to work upon the uppermost labels, which areforced upward against said knives by the weighted cam H and cut throughthe edges thereof, the wedge shape of said knives preventing the cutlabels from crowding past them and retaining them in such position thatthey may be readily picked up, one at a time, by the paste upon thecans, as said cans roll over them. The :resistance of the bevel of saidknives being sucient to prevent the succeeding label from being drawnafter the topmost label as it is detached by the rolling can.

The can in passing over the paste roller G has paste applied to aportion of its periphery, and said roller is so adjusted with respect tothe label receptacle, that as the can rolls along, the center of itspasted portion will strike the forward end of the uppermostlabel, sothat said label will be picked up by the paste, and rolled onto the can.

To provide for applying paste to the lap end of the label, the crank rodI is employed which extends across the label receptacle and rests uponthe labels therein, its ends being journaled in brackets r fastened tothe sides of said receptacle. One end of said crank rod extends throughits brackets and is environed by a coiled spring s, which is secured atone end to said rod, and the other end to s'rid bracket. The tension ofsaid spring acting upon said rod, normally throws the horizontal portionthereof forward of its points of pivot, causing it to lie in one of theseries of grooves a in the upper edge of the label receptacle so that asthe can rolls over said rod with one end of the label attached thereto,the rod is brought between the label and the can,.as clearly shown inFig. 4, and as the can rolls, said crank rod is swung upward by theengagement of the label therewith, in which position it remains untilthe can shall have nearly passed off of the lower end of the label, whenthe force of the spring s will return said crank to its former position,which operation quickly withdraws the free or lap end of the label fromunder the can, causing it to come in contact with the pasted surfacethereof, and applying paste thereto. Said crank rod maybe regulated toaccommodate the various lengths of the laps of the labels, by adjustinglongitudinally the brackets i' in which the ends of said rod arejournaled. The provision for the adjustment being shown in Fig. 1. Afterthe can has passed from the label receptacle with the label attachedthereto, it rolls onto the inclined apron J and the succeedingrevolutions of the can down said apron, cause the lap-end of the labelto firmly adhere. The operation of attaching the label being completewhen thc can is arrested by the stop K at the bottom of the chute. Thisapron J is composed of a series of flexible strands that are stretchedlongitudinally between the sides B, their lower ends passing over andsecured to a drum L journaled between said sides, the shaft of said drumcarrying on its outer end a ratchet wheel M adapted to be engaged by apawl 't whereby the proper tension may be applied to said strands. Theupper ends of said strands pass over an inclined brace 3 secured betweenthe sides B, and are attached to a transverse rod 4, below the end ofsaid brace. The elastic nature of these strands because of the tensionplaced thereon causes them to spring and vibrate as the can rolls along,and being independent of one another, they conform more perfectly to andact upon alluneven surfaces thereby thoroughly pressing the label uponthe can.

The lowerl end of the run-way is supported upon a roller N journaled inbrackets P secured to the table, so that the portion of said run-waybelow the label receptacle may be ICO IIO

drawn away therefrom to enable the labels to be readily placed in saidreceptacle or removed therefrom, the upper end of the movable sectionbeing supported upon a cross piece P which is secured to the chute orrunf way and is adapted to slide therewith, being secured by a bolt Upassing through a slot o therein and receiving a thumb-nut z. Thebrackets P are provided with vertical eXtenro sions 5, which bearagainst rubbing plates 6 secured on each side of the chute, and guide itin its longitudinal movement.

The cans may be fed to this machine rapidly and caused to follow eachother in quick succession, so that there may bea continual train of canspassing through the machine.

I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction herein setAforth as various changes may be made without departing from the spiritof my invention.-

Having thus fully set forth my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure byk Letters Patent, is j l. Ina can labeling machine, the combination with the can run-way and thepaste applying mechanism of the oscillating section of said run-way, andthe means connecting said section with said rollers whereby they arerotated by the actuation of said section.

2. In a can labeling machine, the combination of the can run-way, theoscillative section thereof, the label receptacle in said runway,therotative detaining knives extending into said receptacle and adaptedto engage opposite edges of the labels therein, and means for connectingsaid knives with said oscillative section of the run-way.

3. In a can labeling machine, the combination of the can run-way, thelabel receptacle located in said run-way, the oscillative knivesprojecting into said receptacle, the movable follower therein, and meansfor raising said follower to cause the labels to bear against saidknives. v

4. In acan labeling machine, the combination with the pasting mechanism,of the can run-way having a label receptacle therein, the springrestrained crank rod crossing said receptacle and journaled at its endsto the sides thereof, said rod lying adjacent to the face of the labelsand adapted to be swung over by the labelv winding onto the can, and-tobe returned by the action of its spring as the can rolls from the label,so that the lap end of the label is brought into contact with the pasteon the can, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a can labeling machine, the combination with the pastingmechanism, of the can 6o run-way having a label receptacle therein, the

crank rod crossing said receptacle and journaled in bearings on thesides thereof, thek coiled spring upon said rod, one end of said springbeing secured to the rod and the other end to the bearing supportingsaid rod whereby the crank portion of said rod is held normally adjacentto the labels in said receptacle.

6. In a can labeling machine, the combination of the can run-way havingthe label receptacle therein, the flexible apron in said 7o run-waybelow said receptacle onto which the cans roll by gravity, said aproncomposed of a series of independent elastic strands.

7. In a can labeling machine, the combination with the paste applyingmechanism, of the can run-way, the flexible apron in said run-way ontowhich the cans roll by gravity, said apron composed of a series ofelastic strands and the means/for applying tension thereto,substantially as set forth.

8. In a can labeling machine, the combination of the run-way having alabel receptacle therein, the oscillative rod crossing said receptacleand lying adjacent to the surface of the labels, said rod being adaptedto be swung 8 5 over by the action of the label winding onto the can,and to swing back as the can rolls from the label to draw the lap end ofthe label from the can.

9. In a can labeling machine, the combination of the label receptacle,the oscillative rod crossing said receptacle and adapted to lie adjacentto the labels therein.

k 10. In a can labeling machine, the combination with the paste applyingmechanism, of 9,5 the can run-way having an oscillative sectionconnected with said pasting mechanism and provided with a labelreceptacle therein, the knives extending into said receptacle, themovable follower forming the bottom thererco of, the arm depending fromsaid follower, and

the weighted cam engaging said arm.

1l. In a can labeling machine, the combination of the canrun-way, havingthe label receptacle therein, the movable follower form- :o5 ing thebottom of said receptacle, the curved arm depending from said followerand means, for raising the same.

l2. In a can labeling machine, the combination of the run-way, the labelreceptacle therer xo in, the oscillative journals provided with V-shaped knives that extend into said receptacle and whose edges terminateon a line with thecenter of oscillation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in I I 5 presence of twowitnesses.

EVAN W. CORNELL.

Witnesses:

FRED H. KNAPP, ALICE M. WILBER.

